Monday, April 30, 2012

I've loved dying and painting eggs since I was a little kid. That is my favorite part of Easter celebrations. I like seeing how different people decorate their eggs. From using paint, dye, wax, glitter, stickers, markers, crayons, and/or carvings, the only limit is your imagination.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

For once, the Blacklist is the place to be. This tattoo shop in Lanse, PA is where Christal Musser and her husband inject craniums into epidermises with a variety of designs to satisfy any type of skin.

Skin art is still some of my all time favorite(of course). The conscious choice to wear your skull on the outside lets others know that you are enough of a realist to remember that the braincase you have is the only one you were given, so why not pay homage to it? I like that you use different styles and don't just get stuck doing the same effects for every tat you do, Christal. Variety is the spice of life and it applies to skull tats as well. Thanks for sharing the great ink works, Christal!

BTW, I currently have 16 various skulls inked on my own body. Is anyone else out there brave enough to share your number???

Friday, April 27, 2012

Artist Leah from Curious Art Lab sent us this skully piece that she created for the AlphaBeasts! project. You can lean more about the process to create this skull specific piece HERE, as well as, flashback to another of Leah's submissions to our site HERE and HERE.

Dial C for Character says:

Thank you for sharing another piece of your illustrated family. I had a wonderful time going through your created collection of “Oddments & Curiosities”. Also Thank you for being a long time reader and contributor to the Skull-A-Day project.

Welcome to another addition of Flashback Friday.** This year the guest editors, Tatman, Citizen Agent, and myself, Azurafae are taking turns reflecting on 17 of our personal favorite skulls from the previous four years of postings. So please join us as we visit the archives and add our additional commentary on some of the original pieces.

This colorful creations harks back to the fun toys of childhood. I didn't have a light brite as a kid, but my best friend Kit McSmash did. I'm tempted to buy one for my daughter, just so I can play with it...well and so she can too. The Skull-Brite is more beautiful in person as it's rainbow of colors glows eerily. I have to resist playing with it, every time I go over to Noah's house. I recall this was his sister's toy, for which she isn't getting back, but can come visit.

**Flashback Friday was a weekly countdown of the fan selected top 52 skulls of Skull-A-Day 1.0. Each week during year 3.0 The Skullmaster posted the original skull along with some additional commentary in order from lowest to highest rated, with the #1 skull appearing in the last week of year 3.0, all 52 can be found here. During year 4.0 the editors had their chance to countdown their favorites Azurafae HERE, Citizen Agent HERE, and Tatman HERE.

For my upcoming League of Space Pirates gig I created this special silkscreened poster. It is a defaced ad for Übercorp, the largest corporate entity in the universe (and League of Space Pirates sworn enemy)...

It's printed in silver and black-light reactive red & yellow-green on black acid-free paper by my friends at Team Eight and the stencil I used to create the art was custom laser cut by my friend Jason at BIG SECRET.

You can buy it in the League of Space Pirates store HERE (where you can also get the original un-defaced version of the poster).

Many pieces of art have been created with inspiration from religion and war. Though I'm not religious and am peaceful, I can see the passion that people draw from these subject matters. The styles are not all the same, as the personal interpretation is different for each person and artwork. Art is a great way to release your inner struggles, joys, and pain. It is passion in physical form.

To celebrate year 5 of Skull-A-Day I've decided to paint 100 skulls on 4 x 4in (10.16 x 10.16 cm) wooden panels over the course of the year...

Finally had a moment to get back to this project after all my recent travel. I worked with a larger brush the entire time and I started with a bright orange background, but it just didn't work, so I painted it black, but left a bit of the old orange visible, which I think gives it a nice pop.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Captain Morgan told us: “I'm a diehard Los Angeles Dodgers fan but have found it difficult to find team apparel that is both appealing to my rock ’n roll aesthetic, but doesn't look ostentatious. This is a stencil piece I made myself. I used spray paint and a mechanic style shirt that I bought at a thrift store. I feel I have captured my rock ’n roll aesthetic here.”

Brooklyn C says:

Given the heated rhetoric of the past few months, I thought this was a commentary on the situation surrounding your beloved Dodgers. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of personal style with us and hopefully your extra home team support will bring good things their way this season, and if they win it all this year, it will all be thanks to your mojo.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Bart De Keyzer is here representing his 3rd Floor designs which include this outstanding firefighter skull. A great representation about how the boyhood dreams of many can literally end in flames.

Rough, rugged, and brave,

Facing the fiery breath of,

Their inner demons.

Firefighters are a different breed for sure. Risking life and limb to save those in peril brings about daily consequence. The skull is a fitting figure since the brave men and women who perform this public service see their fair share of tragedy as well. Let's take this moment to appreciate the skulls of all of those out there who don't think twice to look death in the face for the sake of saving another. Thanks for the great submission, Bart!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Seeing the 3D images with the drawing reminds me of my digital animation friends doing character studies. There were always 3D renderings of the character "skeleton" with multiple drawings of it's "skin". This particular set reminds me of the Skeksis from "The Dark Crystal" movie. They were very reptilian and skeletal.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Madame Curatrix in the US, "bought this vintage rhinestone necklace in a local antique shop. My first thought upon seeing it was that it resembled a cartoonish, bug-eyed skull. I wonder if the original manufacturers noticed that when they made it!"

Pat Upton of Durham NC, "Saw this package of girls' jewelry at Ross Dress for Less."

We need help from our skull hunters. If you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Motivated by the "Skulls" book, Rich Cihlar decided to take his love of Pez and skull art to a new level with these skateboard deck paintings. Reused and upgraded to display the sweeter side of skating skulls.

Rich's work is all done by using spray paint and stencils. Even with the same subject in both paintings, they take on different looks brought on by the different backgrounds. Rich has also decided to dip his toe into the 365 realm by doing a piece of Pez art everyday for the month of April. Check it out here. Thanks for submitting the sweet skate decks, Rich!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Artist Brad Pearson from Richmond, VA returns to us with a new batch of skull marbles that he recently created. This group of marbles average about 1.5"each.

1600° C says:

It was wonderful to hear again from one our early contributors. We are always happy to see what you are currently working as well as knowing that you are still thinking about us. Thank you for sharing some of your recent skull themed creations with us.

Welcome to another addition of Flashback Friday.** This year the guest editors, Tatman, Citizen Agent, and myself, Azurafae are taking turns reflecting on 17 of our personal favorite skulls from the previous four years of postings. So please join us as we visit the archives and add our additional commentary on some of the original pieces.

I've loved carved veggies ever since I saw my 1st radish made into a flower. This cute little skull reminds me of those delightful radishes. Makes me want to carve one up and make it the star of a meal, though I don't know what to make with turnips...besides skulls.

**Flashback Friday was a weekly countdown of the fan selected top 52 skulls of Skull-A-Day 1.0. Each week during year 3.0 The Skullmaster posted the original skull along with some additional commentary in order from lowest to highest rated, with the #1 skull appearing in the last week of year 3.0, all 52 can be found here. During year 4.0 the editors had their chance to countdown their favorites Azurafae HERE, Citizen Agent HERE, and Tatman HERE.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Donna Neal from Austin, Texas, submitted an image from her Santa Muerte series. She explained how it was created, "I shot all the elements for this digital print. Composited this one in Photoshop."

I'm not normally a fan of digital composites, but I like the arrangement, subject matter, and texturing of this one. The skull texture reminds me of lace, which goes well with the vintage feel to the flowers. The flowers clinging to the skull reminds me of stories where bodies are found when new home owners digging in a garden. Though that has never happened to me, I always fear that when looking to purchase an old house with a large yard.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Skull-A-Day staff will be spending this June 4th at the Philadelphia's Mütter Museum with a one-day exhibition of skull art from around the world. We will be bringing dozens of original pieces of art from last year's Skull Appreciation Day exhibit along with a bunch of brand new mail art pieces!

If you're in the area I hope you'll come by and say hi between 10am and 5pm on June 4th. And even if you're not in the area, you can participate by sending in your own original skull mail art for us to display, details are HERE.

As a special bonus we're giving away 50 limited edition silver Skull Appreciation Day pins (1.25" diameter featuring the skull/heart icon and the words "June 4") to the first 50 people* that send a self addressed envelope with 2 First Class stamps (90 cents total) on it to us at:

Skull-A-Day
PO Box 73236
Richmond, VA 23235

*Don't wait if you want to get a pin! We'll let you know when we've run out. And don't worry, even if we run out of pins after you've mailed us your envelope, we'll still send you something fun back in it!

Mel Rudgley is here from a land down under with this very large and ornate skull painting.

Very large indeed! Mel didn't include the dimensions of this piece, but judging from the angle of the pic and the fact that it looks like it's resting on a chair I'm gonna guess it is "very" large. Just like with tattoos, the bigger the better. Thanks for not letting limitations rule your creativity, Mel!

Monday, April 16, 2012

With Spring blasting pollen at everyone, my allergies could use a bushel of glowing oranges. I wonder if they are better at helping stuffy nose ailments than their regular orange kin? Or is it going to be like when Alex was a baby and she ate so many carrots, squashes, and sweet potatoes that her skin turned a bit orange? If that happens, hopefully I won't turn Simpson yellow and maybe just a nice faux tan orange. It's likely to kill me faster than my pollen allergies will. I'm going to drink some oj now...without that nice glow.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Bob Aul said "Unfortunately, this Crimini mushroom was harmed, but only in a way that mushrooms are usually harmed in the normal course of food preparation, and in fact the likeness only became apparent to me once the sautéing had already begun. So understandably I had to grab the camera before I added the wine."

Christopher Deacon said "I was making pizza, and as I was slicing mushrooms, noticed they looked very skull-like. I thought this photo makes the pizza look kind of like a graveyard."

We need help from our skull hunters. If you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Perhaps someday, when you're passing through Pottstown, PA., Clayton Moser will have a full sized version of this great looking skull house to display. For now this innovative idea will remain just a drawing of imaginative proportions literally displaying the old adage that the "eyes are the windows to the soul".

It would only make sense that there would be a skull shaped house somewhere in this world, and I'm sending out a challenge to anyone who has seen one. Heck, even if you just see it on the internet share a link with us in the comments section if you find anything. All I could find with a quick search was this longhorn skull restaurant. There has to be a way to make this house a home, and my building materials background is itching to find a way. Thanks for the inspiration, Clayton!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Artist “gille monte ruici” working in his cellar in a suburb of Paris, France is back with another collection of skulls that he created using recovered steel including: kitchen utensils, keys, plumbing, and random pieces of hardware of which some even light up.

He went on to tell us: “My skeleton is made of all recycled pieces and lights us on our way to the future. I also convert a fork and a spoon in a skull BBQ set.”

Micmac C says:

I am really impressed that not only do you incorporate lamps into your art, but the fact that they also are functional when you are finished with them is amazing. Thank you again for sharing another wonderful collection of your creations.

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